"It was pretty (surprising) … I wasn't out of contract with the Saints. I think it was the Demons and the Bombers that were showing interest," Long said.

"They were sort of saying that I was up for a trade and that, but I really wasn't. I think it was just talk, I'm not too sure."

It's not hard to see why St Kilda wants to lock Long down. He showed star potential in his 10 games this season, adding toughness, speed and class up forward, in a campaign interrupted by a fractured metatarsal in his right foot.

His brilliance was encapsulated by a moment late in the round five draw with Greater Western Sydney, when he marked about 45m out close to the boundary and faked a drop punt before running around Phil Davis on the mark to snap an outrageous goal.